Clayton Cabinets
It was at school in Holsworthy that Nick Clayton from Clayton Cabinets first became interested in furniture making. "I've always enjoyed making things and was lucky enough to have a really supportive and encouraging woodwork teacher at school," says Nick. "I wasn't terribly academic but, with his help, I discovered my creative side and appreciation of wood, and I've basically never looked back."
Taking his education in woodwork to the next level, Nick left the rolling hills of Devon and headed for the big smoke to enrol at the London College of Furniture, where his studies were split between designing and making.
"Going from the depths of Devon to London for the first time at the age of 16 was a real eye-opener (if a bit nerve-racking) but it gave me a much wider appreciation of furniture making and the artisan side of it. Plus, I really got into the culture in and around the Clerkenwell area, which wasn't nearly as trendy as it is now, but had this vibrant multicultural atmosphere that was exciting for a Devon boy!"
The draw of the city wasn't quite enough to convince Nick to stay on in London after his studies came to an end. Having been born in Okehampton and grown up in Sheepwash, Nick decided to return to Devon and his family. "I loved city life but it gave me an even greater appreciation of the countryside. The people here are, in general, honest and hardworking, and that matters when you are in business."
In fact, living and working in the county has had a profound impact on Nick's approach to design and to his business in general. Being so far from the capital means that he doesn't feel quite so compelled to follow the latest trends. He explains: "I regularly go up to London for exhibitions and events. Tent London and 100% Design are particular favourites, but I do feel the pressure that designers there are under to hit on the 'next big thing'. In Devon, my work is very much about what the client likes and what they need in their home. They are generally quite practical, but also laid-back and, particularly with regular customers, I am often given carte blanche on the design, which is brilliant for creating more unusual work."
Clayton Cabinets produces individual pieces that are designed to meet the client's specific needs. Nick says that the most important thing is to listen to customer requirements. "It's not me that has to live with the furniture, so it' essential that they are happy. Plus of course, a lot of my work comes from referrals and recommendations. In a close-knit county like Devon, getting it wrong is financial suicide."
According to Nick, buying bespoke furniture has some clear advantages over standard furniture. "The true beauty of bespoke is that it can be made precisely to fit your home – like a glove. In Devon, where the properties are often blessed with uneven walls, wonky floors and randomly placed alcoves, it's almost impossible to achieve a perfect fit with standard size, off-the-peg furniture. However, the problem with individual pieces is that people automatically assume that it costs the earth to make them. I am not saying we can compete with Ikea, but our kitchens start at around £12,000 for a reasonable-sized room and you can soon get to that figure with a kitchen from a mass-produced source "it just won't be nearly as lovely!"
One of the things that sets Clayton Cabinets apart is material choice. When working on his own designs, Nick explains how he particularly likes to source local materials. "Where possible I use local timber yards. I trust them and I like giving my business to Devon companies."
The very best scenario, according to Nick, is when he discovers an unusual tree that has lain undiscovered for years, which he can then get kiln dried down to the moisture content of 10-12% that's required for internal use. "Once processed in our workshop it can be turned into beautiful furniture," he says. "We have even had customers bring us timber, perhaps from a wind-fall oak tree, which we have turned into something with character and heritage that means all the more to them."
Clayton Cabinets
It was at school in Holsworthy that Nick Clayton from Clayton Cabinets first became interested in furniture making. "I've always enjoyed making things and was lucky enough to have a really supportive and encouraging woodwork teacher at school," says Nick. "I wasn't terribly academic but, with his help, I discovered my creative side and appreciation of wood, and I've basically never looked back."
Taking his education in woodwork to the next level, Nick left the rolling hills of Devon and headed for the big smoke to enrol at the London College of Furniture, where his studies were split between designing and making.
"Going from the depths of Devon to London for the first time at the age of 16 was a real eye-opener (if a bit nerve-racking) but it gave me a much wider appreciation of furniture making and the artisan side of it. Plus, I really got into the culture in and around the Clerkenwell area, which wasn't nearly as trendy as it is now, but had this vibrant multicultural atmosphere that was exciting for a Devon boy!"
The draw of the city wasn't quite enough to convince Nick to stay on in London after his studies came to an end. Having been born in Okehampton and grown up in Sheepwash, Nick decided to return to Devon and his family. "I loved city life but it gave me an even greater appreciation of the countryside. The people here are, in general, honest and hardworking, and that matters when you are in business."
In fact, living and working in the county has had a profound impact on Nick's approach to design and to his business in general. Being so far from the capital means that he doesn't feel quite so compelled to follow the latest trends. He explains: "I regularly go up to London for exhibitions and events. Tent London and 100% Design are particular favourites, but I do feel the pressure that designers there are under to hit on the 'next big thing'. In Devon, my work is very much about what the client likes and what they need in their home. They are generally quite practical, but also laid-back and, particularly with regular customers, I am often given carte blanche on the design, which is brilliant for creating more unusual work."
Clayton Cabinets produces individual pieces that are designed to meet the client's specific needs. Nick says that the most important thing is to listen to customer requirements. "It's not me that has to live with the furniture, so it' essential that they are happy. Plus of course, a lot of my work comes from referrals and recommendations. In a close-knit county like Devon, getting it wrong is financial suicide."
According to Nick, buying bespoke furniture has some clear advantages over standard furniture. "The true beauty of bespoke is that it can be made precisely to fit your home – like a glove. In Devon, where the properties are often blessed with uneven walls, wonky floors and randomly placed alcoves, it's almost impossible to achieve a perfect fit with standard size, off-the-peg furniture. However, the problem with individual pieces is that people automatically assume that it costs the earth to make them. I am not saying we can compete with Ikea, but our kitchens start at around £12,000 for a reasonable-sized room and you can soon get to that figure with a kitchen from a mass-produced source "it just won't be nearly as lovely!"
One of the things that sets Clayton Cabinets apart is material choice. When working on his own designs, Nick explains how he particularly likes to source local materials. "Where possible I use local timber yards. I trust them and I like giving my business to Devon companies."
The very best scenario, according to Nick, is when he discovers an unusual tree that has lain undiscovered for years, which he can then get kiln dried down to the moisture content of 10-12% that's required for internal use. "Once processed in our workshop it can be turned into beautiful furniture," he says. "We have even had customers bring us timber, perhaps from a wind-fall oak tree, which we have turned into something with character and heritage that means all the more to them."
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